Egg-tester.



P. A. LOWN.

EGG TESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1913. 1,095,408, T Patented May 5, 1914.

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. P. A. LOWN.

EGG TESTER.

APPLICATION H'LED APB. 1o, 1913.

1,095,408. ratentdmay 5,1911

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r. nvmtof/ PERRY A. LOWN, 0F LIDIA, OHIO.

EGG-TESTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application led April 10, 1913. Serial No. 760,258.

declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

- This invention Yrelates to egg testers7 and its object is to provide a peculiar form of shelves in which the eggs are carried in in dependent trays, so that the trays can be brought successively over t-he light.

Another object is to provide means for turning the eggs while in their trays.

These and other objects are carried out by constructing the device in the manner hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of this device complete, with the hood in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the standard and the uppermost shelf, showing one form of trays in the three sections thereof; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the shelves. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the collars for supporting a shelf. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one corner of a shelf, showing a slightly different form of tray therein; and Fig. T is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a base in the shape of a tripod, from which rises a standard 2 preferably carrying a spider 3 at its upper end, the spider supporting a ring 4 whereon is hung a hood 5 as of fabric split down one side as at 6 as shown. The fabric is preferably some dark close-woven cloth so as to confine the rays of light within the hood, and the light may be an electric bulb as indicated at 7, rendered luminous by electricity iowing along wires 8 which lead from a suitable source.

i However, I do not wish to be limited to this Videa that the light be disposed beneath the lowermost of the shelves yet to be described,

and it is well to carry it by or on the tripod. When the user parts the hood at its split 6 and places his head above the uppermost shelf, directly above the light 7, whatever is brought between his eye and the light will be subjected to the testing operation as will be clear.

Adjustably mounted on the standard 2 as bya set screw 10 is a collar 11 from one side of which a stud projects upward as shown in Fig. 5; and there is one of these collars for each shelf. The latter is made as best seen in Fig. 4, of angle iron cross bars 13 and 14 and a right-angular frame bar 15 whose ends 16 are bent inward and connect-ed with the cross bars in such manner that three square sections or frames are produced in each shelf and one open space 17. The cross bars are supported by a hub 18 which rests on a collar 11, and the hub has in its under side a socket 19 adapted to ride into engagement with the stud 12. rlhe position of the studs and sockets is such that normally the open spaces 17 of all the shelves stand directly above each other so that on looking downward through them the inspector'may view the light 7 as seen in Fig. 2.

In each of the three rectangular frames formed by each shelf is disposed a tray 20y having through it a number of upwardly flaring sockets 21 within which the eggs are placed on end, and as these sockets open through the bottom of the tray it will be clear that when one of t-he eggs is brought opposite the open spaces 17 through all the other shelves and between the eye of the inspector and the light/7, he may see at a glance if they be bad.

Another feature of my invention consists in the provision of another form of tray, best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case, the tray frame 25 which rests removably in the shelf frame or section, has bearings at opposite sides in which are journaled stub shafts 26 and 27 at opposite ends of a series of rollers 28, whereof each is grooved as shown at 9.9; and one stub shaft of the series has a handwheel or knob 30 at its outer end so that it may be rotated. All the stub shafts 26 have sprocket wheels 31 over which passes an endless chain 32, so that the rotation of this roller and its sprocket wheel causes the simultaneous rotation of all the others and in the same direction. It follows that the eggs laid within the spaces formed by the meeting grooves E29, as seen in Fig. 6, will rotate in a direction the reverse of the rollers, and the spaces between the grooves will permit light to shine transversely through the eggs the same as the socket 2l in the form of tray shown in Fig. 8. Therefore when a tray of this kind is brought between the inspectors eye and the light 7, the eggs may be inspected equally well and he is able to turn them with the knob 30 if desired.

The proportions and materials of parts are not essential to the successful operation of this invention, and l reserve the right to make changes in details as come within the spirit of the same.

YV hat is claimed as new is:

l. ln an egg tester, the combination with a series of egg trays whereof each has upright open sockets, a support, a spindle rising therefrom, and a series of collars on the spindle; of a series of openwork square shelves whereof each has a hub through its center engaging said spindle and resting on one of the collars and each also has one quarter section cut away, the other sections being adapted to support said egg-trays, and a light beneath the lowermost shelf.

2. ln an egg tester, the combination with a series of egg trays, each tray having upright open sockets, a spindle rising from a suitable support, a light on the latter, and a series of collars on the spindle, each collar having a stud rising from it at one point; of a series of square tray-carrying shelves of openwork structure. and a hub through the center of each shelf engaging said spindle above a collar and having a socket in its lower end adapted to engage the stud in the collar1 one corner of each shelf being cut away at a point to stand over the light when said socket and stud engage.

ln an egg tester, the combination with an upright standard rising from a suitable support, a light on the support, and a series of collars adjustably mounted on the support and each having a stud rising from it, all said studs standing in the same relation to said light; of a series of openwork shelves whereof each comprises a pair of cross bars and a frame member making up a square shelf excepting that one quarter is cut away, a hub at the center of the shelf having a socket adapted to engage the stud in its collar when said cut away portion stands over said light, three egg trays removably engaging each shelf and having open upright sockets for the eggs, a spider at the upper end of said standard, a ring carried by said spider, and a hood overlying the ring and inclosing all the shelves and trays.

fl. ln an egg tester, the combination with an upright standard rising from a suitable support, a light on the support, and a series of collars adjust-ably mounted on the support and each having a stud rising from it, all said studs standing in the same relation to said light; of a series of openwork shelves whereof each comprises a pair of cross bars and a frame member making up a square shelf excepting that one corner is cut away,

a hub at the center of the shelf having a i socket adapted to engage the stud in its collar when said cut away portion stands over the light, three egg trays removably engaging each shelf and having open upright sockets for the eggs, and means in each tray for turning the eggs which lie in said Sockets.

In a device of the class described, the combination with a shelf rotatably mounted on an upright standard and including a frame of angle iron; of a tray consisting of a frame resting within that of the shelf and having bearings in its opposite sides, a series of rollers having stub shafts at their extremities engaging said bearings, one of the shafts being extended through the tray frame and having a knob and all the rollers having registering grooves, a series of sprocket wheels on the opposite stub shafts, and an endless sprocket chain connecting them, for the purpose set forth.

ln testimony w iereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PERRY A. LOW'N.

lVitnesses:

Lint-IAN Znnns'r, J, H Lone.

Copies or" this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

